Adult respiratory distress secondary to strongyloidiasis

A patient with a renal transplant who was receiving immunosuppressive therapy developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Numerous filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis were seen in the bronchial lavage. The patient died despite intensive treatment, and the postmortem examination revealed abundant larvae of the parasite in the lungs. There were no other factors that could explain the ARDS.